Hat-blocking machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. MARSHALL. HAT BLOCKING MACHINE.

No. 453,198. Patented June 2,1891.

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(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. MARSHALL. HAT BLOCKING MACHINE. 'N0. 453,198. v Patented June 2,1891.

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JAMES MARSHALL, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAT-BLOCKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,198, dated June 2, 1891. Application filed December 31, 1890. Serial No. 376,393. (No model.)

' River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Blocking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hat-blocking machines, and has for its object to provide means forholding the unblocked hat in proper position to receive the block and for driving the block into the hat and making a sharp band or joint between crown and brim while so held, which means shall be simple in construction and require little or no skill in operation; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements :hereinafter fully explained, and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand its construction and method of operation, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the reference numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine; Fig. 2, a front elevation; and Fig. 3 a section at the line Y of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

1 represents a steam-chest mounted upon suitable supports 2 and provided with steampipe connections 3. vided with shut-off cock 4. Upon the top of the steam-chest is a block of wood or other suitable substance denoted by 5. This hasa central opening of oval shape large enough to admit any ordinary hat-crown, and upon this is adapted to be placed a sheet-metal plate 6, having an opening just large enough to admit the crown of some particular size of hat. The shape of this plate is shown in edge elevation at Fig. 1-that is to say, it corresponds with the sweep of a hat-brim from front to rear. In this connection I contemplate using an adjustable plate whose open- The inlet-pipe'is pr'oing may be altered according to the size and shape of the hat to be blocked.

The wooden block 5 heretofore referred to may be changed from time to time for work upon hats whose brims have a different curve or sweep.

7 represents a standard rising above the top of the steam-chest and then projecting inwardly over the same. It may be conveniently supported, as shown at Fig. 1, by bolting it to the rear side of the chest. This standard carries near its upper end pulleys 8 and 9,'over which runs a cord or chain 10, whose purpose will be presently explained. Said cord or chain carries a counter-weight 11.

At each side of the steam-chest and secured thereto are ways 12, in which run vertical slide-rods 13, whose upper ends are connected in such .manner as to form a cross-head, the connection shown being a bar 14. To the ends of said slide-rods, or to some point near their ends, are connected chains 15, which are attached to sprocket-wheels 16, borne upon a transverse shaft 17, which has a bearing near the bottom of the machine. This shaftalso carries disks or sprocket-wheels 18, having attached thereon straps or chains 19, whose ends are connected to a bar 20. This bar is secured to a foot-lever 21 and is adapted to be operated thereby.

22 is a sliding frame arranged upon the slide-rods and bearing a ring 23 somewhat larger in interior diameter than the crown of the hat to be blocked. Springs 24have their upper ends secured to this ring and their lower ends to pins or studs upon the sliderod, and stops 26 on said rods support the ring in the position shown at Fig. 3.

27 is a follower or rammer-block centrally secured upon the block 14, having screws by which it can be adjusted up or down to push the block fart-her into the hat or less far, as may be desired, and to this bar is secured the end of the cord or chain 10, heretofore referred to.

28 is the hat-block, and 29 is the hat.

In the operation of myinvention the hat is first placed with its crown projecting downward into the steam-chest through the hole in the plate 6, its brim resting upon the surface of said plate. The hat-block 28 is then inserted loosely into the hat-crown, as shown at Fig. 3. The operator then applies pressure to the foot-lever 21, and thereby through the straps 19 rotates the sprocket-wheels 10 and draws down the slide-rods in their bearings. These, of course, carry with them the ring 23, which, when the downward movement is sufficiently advanced, strikes the surface of the hat-brim and clamps it against the upper surface of the plate. Farther downward movement of the slide-rods brings the block 27 into contact with the top of the hat-block and drives the latter firmly into the hat. It will of course be understood that the downward movement of the slide-rods after the clampin g-rin g has engaged the hat will stretch the springs 24, whose force holds the clamping-ring in place. When this operation is completed and the pressure removed from the foot-lever, the counter-weight 11, supplementing the action of the springs 24, will carry the several parts back to the position shown at the several figures. The hat and block may then be removed and the process hereinbefore described repeated.

I am aware that various machines have been made to block hats, and these are found to work successfully in that part of' the factory commonly called the m ake-shop, their use being to block the hat preparatory to sending it to the finishing-room. My machine, however is for use in the finishing-department itself, and is for the finisher to use preparatory to ironing and pouncing or fin ishing the crown and brim of the hat.

I claim-- 1. The combination, with the steam-chest having accommodations for the hat-crown and a support for the hat-brim, of the vertically-sliding frame, the sprocket wheels and chains, and the treadle for operating said frame, the rammer-block borne upon said frame, the clamping-ring carried by said frame, and an elastic connection between said frame and ring, whereby the latter may be held against the hat with a yieldingpressure.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with the steam-chest having accommodation for the hat-crown and the support for the brim, of the bifurcated frame guided in Ways at the sides of the steam-chest and vertically movable relative thereto, a rammer-block carried by said frame, a clamping-ring having a sliding bearing upon said frame, a pair of spiral springs interposed between said ring and frame, and means, as described, for effecting the vertical movement of said frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hat-blocking machine, the combination, with the steam-chest, of the verticallysliding frame and means for effecting its movement in both directions, the rammerblock carried upon the top of said frame, the

clamping-ring 23, supported upon the sides of the frame and movable both with and independent of said frame, and the springs 24, having their ends secured, respectively, to the frame and ring, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with the steam-chest having an opening for the hat-crown and a plate for the support of the brim, of the verticallysliding frame, the clamping-ring connected to and adapted to move with said frame, the springs 24, having their ends connected to the frame and ring, the sprocket Wheels and chains, the disks 18, the bands 19, and the operating-lever 21, all arranged as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony WhereofIafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MARSHALL. Witnesses:

FRANK B. CAMPBELL, HENRY II. EARL. 

